Friday, July 30, 2010

There is much more to a projector lamp than meets the eye; it is certainly not just a simple bulb. Sony projector lamps for instance are incredibly bright, and they only achieve this brightness via a complex chemical and electrical system, housed in a sealed module.

The lamps are precision-made components that require specialised equipment and intensive, skilled human input. It stands to reason therefore that there are few manufacturers in the world with the necessary specialist equipment to build them.

All this makes the lamp by far the costliest part of any projector; thus it follows that they are expensive to replace.

How Sony's projector lamps work

Not so long ago, projectors used halogen lamps, which gave a low intensity yellow light and burned out quickly. As digital technology arrived, so did the new generation of powerful metal halide lamps. This powerful light (Sony's projector lamps average 1000 lumen or higher) is necessary to activate the LCD or DLP panel that then produces the superior images modern projectors are known for.

Sony projector lamps operate by sending an electrical current across an ultra-high pressure ARC tube containing mercury vapour. The tube responds by generating an incredible amount of heat - hot enough to vaporise the mercury vapour, which then responds by generating a bright light (or plasma) onto the LCD screen.

Metal halide lamps produce an incredibly high light output for their size, making them ideal for use in compact, modern Sony projectors. Although they are expensive, they typically last for 2000 hours or more - much longer than the old halogen bulbs.

The downside of this is the amount of heat they produce - a cause of early burnout - and the safety aspect. Sony projector lamps need special fixtures to enable soft operation. They are also a "point" light source, so need auxiliary components, such as quartz reflectors, to focus the light where it's needed.

Why genuine projector lamps from Sony cost what they do

Replacing a worn-out projector lamp is about more than just a bulb. Mercury vapour is hazardous, especially when it is igniting under pressure. Therefore, the bulb has a thick glass lens in front to protect the user should the bulb explode.

Sony projector lamps are linked to auxiliary systems, which control the electrical discharge levels during start-up and operation. During assembly it is extremely important the bulb is aligned correctly with the reflector and this must be remembered when it is replaced so the projectors are designed to make this process simple.

A projector bulb is rather delicate, and can easily be damaged. This makes replacement of the bulb alone a specialist job, best left to a qualified technician. Instead, Sony projector lamps are sold as a complete unit, comprising both the projector bulb and housing making it easy for anyone to install a genuine Sony projector bulb.

Although this makes Sony projector lamps a little more expensive, it also means the average user can replace them with just a basic screwdriver and saving much more money in the long term.

The author James Kean represents JP-UK, a specialist UK supplier of projector lamps and bulbs as well as ink toners and cartridges. For further information, follow the link for projector lamps and find out more.